The woodcut tail-pieces were executed by Papillon and others, from Bachelier’s designs, which had been etched by Choffard as separate suites of plates. See Bachelier.
LA FONTAINE. Contes et Nouvelles en Vers par M. de La Fontaine. Amsterdam (Paris), 1762, 2 vols., 8vo. 2 portraits, a large tail-piece containing a portrait of Choffard by himself and 57 other etchings by Choffard and 80 plates by Eisen. 140 illustrations in all.
Choffard’s work for this book consists of 2 head-pieces, 2 fleurons, 2 fleurons on the title-pages, and 52 tail-pieces. He also engraved 1 plate after Eisen.
Among the beautifully illustrated books of the eighteenth century only “Les Métamorphoses d’Ovide,” 1767-1771, can vie with this edition of La Fontaine. They are both magnificently illustrated and published in sumptuous style. This work contains some of Eisen’s masterpieces and Choffard’s contributions are among his most charming book illustrations.
Six plates, originally “découvertes,” were subsequently “couvertes.”
In correct copies Choffard’s portrait should, like the proofs, not have shading lines round the border of the medallion where the lettering is. This vignette forms the tail-piece to “Le Rossignol.”
Choffard’s charming etchings exist in various states.
This edition is known as that of the “fermiers généraux,” as they defrayed all expenses. This was an association, or kind of syndicate, which collected the taxes for the Government and guaranteed to pay over a certain sum. Evidently, what could be collected beyond went as bonus to the associated members. It is supposed that to obtain the favour of the court to continue the monopoly, handsome presents had to be given. Whatever else may have been presented, this edition was produced for the purpose, and presentation copies were especially bound, usually in blue, red, or green morocco, by Derome, with “dentelles” as a rule, and a tooled back designed by Gravelot. These copies, however, do not always contain the plates “découvertes.”
There exist many reprints of this famous edition, some of which contain Choffard’s vignettes reversed. Some copies of the 1792 imitation bear the date 1762, but it is detected as a forgery by the poorness of the impressions.
LA FONTAINE. Contes et Nouvelles en Vers, par Jean de La Fontaine. Paris, de l’imprimerie de P. Didot, l’an III de la République, 1795, 2 vols., 4to. A fine fleuron by Choffard on the title-page of volume i. and repeated in the second one.